Welcome

Honouring the Ancient Dead is a British initiative that advocates respect for what are commonly called ‘human remains’ and their related funereal artefacts.

HAD’s work is based on the following foundation:

As human beings we have a duty of care towards every other human person.

As integral and influencing members of the community, the ancestral dead retain their personhood.

Personhood entails the need for respectful interaction.

This website is designed to inform people of the work that we do, provide a focal point for advocacy and campaigns, promote discussion and debate and be a key information resource for all involved in caring for our ancestors: archaeologists, museums, government departments, teaching hospitals, local historical societies, local communities where exhumations have taken place, and individuals with cultural, educational, spiritual or religious interests in their ancestors.

Please remember that the issues discussed are not to everybody’s taste. If you are likely to be affected by the issues surrounding the care of the ancestral dead (or ‘human remains’), then please progress with care. Read our disclaimer before going further.

HAD is a run entirely by volunteers and is a registered charity. Our financial needs are not great but we can use funds to support this website and hold events. If you would like to make a financial contribution, however small, you can do so by using our PayPal link on the Donate page. Thank you!